Connector for memory cards

Abstract

A connector for memory cards includes a connector body having side walls on both sides and a rear wall. The side walls are formed over their length with card receiving portions to meet shapes of side edges and the number of the memory cards to be used. The connector further includes card identification terminals made of a springy metal strip arranged in a plurality of steps in inner surface of one of the side walls, identification tabs arranged spaced from the card identification terminal prior to insertion of a card, for identifying an existence of an inserted card with the aid of the contact between the inserted card and the card identification terminal, and terminals suitably arranged on the rear wall for writing electronic information into cards and reading stored information from cards. Each of the card identification terminals includes a contact portion to contact the card, a fixing portion to be fixed to the connector body, and a connection portion to be connected to a board and further includes an engaging portion on an extension of the contact portion, which engaging portion engages an anchoring portion of each of insertion grooves formed in the connector body.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A connector for memory cards comprising a connector body having side walls on both sides and a rear wall, said side walls formed over their length with card receiving portions to fit shapes of side edges and the number of the memory cards to be used, card identification terminals arranged in a plurality of steps on an inner surface of said side walls, and terminals suitably arranged on said rear wall for writing electronic information into cards and reading stored information from cards. 
     
     
       2. The connector for memory cards as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said terminals arranged on said rear wall each comprise a contact portion to contact said card, a fixing portion to be fixed to said connector body, and a connection portion to be connected to a board and further comprise an engaging portion on an extension of said contact portion, and wherein said connector body is formed with insertion grooves for inserting said terminals, respectively, and said insertion grooves are each provided with an anchoring portion to engage said engaging portion of said terminal. 
     
     
       3. The connector for memory cards as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein one of said side walls of said connector body is provided with said card identification terminals made of a springy metal strip arranged in a plurality of steps, and identification tabs are each arranged spaced from said card identification terminal prior to insertion of a card, for identifying an existence of an inserted card with the aid of the contact between the inserted card and the card identification terminal. 
     
     
       4. The connector for memory cards as set forth in  claim 3 , wherein said card identification terminals are arranged in two steps one above the other so that when a thinner card is inserted into the connector, said thinner card contacts the card identification terminal in the lower step, and when a thicker card is inserted into the connector, said thicker card contacts both the card identification terminals in the upper and lower steps. 
     
     
       5. The connector for memory cards as set form in  claim 4 , wherein said connector body is provided with a front wall having a card insertion opening for inserting each type of cards. 
     
     
       6. The connector for memory cards as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein one of said side walls of said connector body is provided with said card identification terminals made of a springy metal strip arranged in a plurality of insertion spaces, and identification tabs are each arranged spaced from said card identification terminal prior to insertion of a card, for identifying an existence of an inserted card with the aid of the contact between the inserted card and the card identification terminal. 
     
     
       7. The connector for memory cards as set forth in  claim 6 , wherein said card identification terminals are arranged in two steps one above the other so that when a card of one type is inserted into the upper card insertion space of the connector, said card contacts the card identification terminal located nearer to an insertion opening for the card, and when a card of the other type is inserted into the connector, said card contacts the card identification terminal remoter from the insertion opening for the card.